Ms Rowling sacked the former employee in April 2017 after an accountant supposedly uncovered financial discrepancies. For example, the Harry Potter author claims her husband – Neil Murray – learned £400 ($721) was withdrawn under the guise of a restaurant deposit. However, it is alleged he later discovered the deposit had never been paid.

The 35-year-old, from Lanarkshire, worked for Ms Rowling for a period of three years. She has denied any wrongdoing. As a personal assistant, she reportedly had access to a credit card as well as a safe containing foreign money.

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A spokeswoman for Ms Rowling told the BBC: "I can confirm JK Rowling has taken legal action against her former personal assistant, Amanda Donaldson, following her dismissal for gross misconduct involving a substantial breach of trust. As the case is not yet concluded, we are not able to comment further and there won't be any comment from JK Rowling."

JK Rowling is reportedly suing a former personal assistant.Credit:Andrew Montgomery

Ms Rowling says the 35-year-old spent more than $5000 on cosmetics from Molton Brown, more than $1000 on cakes from an Edinburgh bakery and close to $3000 at Starbucks, according to legal documents.

It is also alleged the former employee took Harry Potter merchandise without Ms Rowling's "knowledge or consent", including a motorised Hogwarts Express train worth £467 ($842). Further, the multi-millionaire claims her former assistant took more than $13,000 worth of foreign money from a safe.

In her defence, Ms Donaldson says her former boss has "not suffered any loss" and is "not entitled to damages".

The case is expected to head to Scotland's Sheriff Court later this year.

It's not the first time a person has received a stern letter from Ms Rowling's lawyers.

The Harry Potter author is renowned for protecting her intellectual property, so much so that she became the first person in modern British law history to receive an injunction without naming a specific individual. The injunction prevented a "person or persons" from sharing plot details about Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix before its official release in 2003.

The following year, Ms Rowling's lawyers wrote to a US military publication over a satirical comic strip featuring a character called Topper who attended a school called Mogmarts. In 2007, the author took on the Indian branch of eBay for selling unauthorised Harry Potter books and fake memorabilia.

However, the most recent court action appears to be the first time Ms Rowling has been embroiled in a legal dispute with one of her own employees.